When Our Bodies Ourselves launched the Women’s Health Heroes Awards in 2009, we didn’t anticipate the outpouring of essays and videos we received (from seven countries!) or how incredibly difficult it would be to select two honorees from the close to 100 submissions.

We circumvented the second issue by selecting 20 Women’s Health Heroes — and addressed the first part by making it an annual event.

By making these changes, we are able to direct more attention to the challenging and rewarding work done around the world to improve the health and well-being of women. And, within five years, our Women’s Health Heroes Hall of Fame will include 100 people who have made a difference.

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So without further ado, I’m delighted to announce the launch of the 2010 Women’s Health Heroes Awards.

Here are the important deadlines:

* Nominations open: April 1

* Submissions deadline: May 7

* Voting opens: May 7

* Voting closes: May 14

* Winners announced: May 26

Submissions will be posted at OurBodiesOurBlog.org. Readers will determine which nominee receives the Audience Choice Award, and OBOS staff will select one nominee for special recognition.

Those two selections — and the people who nominated them — will receive a set of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” titles, including “Our Bodies, Ourselves”; “Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause”; and “Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth” — all of which will be signed by organizational co-founders, book editors and contributors. In addition, these health heroes will receive an engraved award for display.

Then, because we can’t stop there, we’ll select 18 more nominees, for a total of 20 new inductees into the Women’s Health Heroes Hall of Fame.

Please feel free to share this information on blogs, listservs and with your own networks. If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Brovold, OBOS communications and marketing manger: wendy@bwhbc.org or 617-245-0200 ×13

Thanks — and good luck!

P.S. You can help spread the word by adding one of these widgets to your website or Facebook. If you need other promotional material, just let us know!